In a bold surprise, HBO plans to launch a stand-alone over-the-top service in the U.S. next year, CEO Richard Plepler confirmed Wednesday.

Next up: sports. I find it ludicrous that there was literally no (legal) way for me and my Baltimore-born wife to watch the Orioles-Royals series without subscribing to a cable package because of TBS’s contract with MLB. This is not the future we were promised.

Of course, it’s perfectly possible HBO will muck this up by charging an exorbitant rate.